While you need to prepare to spend some money here, The Peddler Steakhouse boasts mouth-watering steaks and delicious add ons in a natural, intimate environment.

- The SmokyMountains.com Local Expert Team

Look no further than The Peddler Steakhouse if you want a memorable night out in breathtaking surroundings. The beautiful mountain venue, set at the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is surpassed only by the delicious food this popular eatery offers.

Built in the former home of a fourth generation Gatlinburg merchant, The Peddler Steakhouse combines the intimacy of its cabin location with the sophistication of a fine steakhouse. It’s hard to go wrong with anything on this menu. Tables overlooking the Little Pigeon River make for a memorable evening, but anywhere you sit is a good spot for delicious seafood, salads, and — of course — steak.

Here are some highlights from the menu:

Appetizers: If you want to start your meal with a memorable appetizer, you can’t go wrong with the chilled shrimp cocktail. This fresh, delicious menu item is steamed with Chesapeake seasonings for a unique flair. Other seafood options like the Oysters on Half Shell or Crab and Shrimp Stuffed Mushrooms also offer savory starts to your dining experience. Try the Fried Cheese Sticks for something familiar, or get a little more adventurous with the Fried Dill Pickles or Fried Mushrooms and Cauliflower.

Beyond the Entreé: The entreés here are stellar, going above and beyond what you’d expect from any old steakhouse. Every entreé comes with The Peddler’s Salad Bar, which is huge and could be its own meal. And that’s not all. You get oven hot bread with all meals and can choose from available sides like steak fries, baked potato, seasonal vegetable, and wild rice. Another choice, sweet potato casserole with coconut, adds a unique touch. If none of those are quite what you’re looking for, you can also substitute a baked stuffed potato, breaded onion rings, sautéed caramelized onions, or fresh button mushrooms.

Custom Steaks Cut Tableside: Looking for a personal touch to an already mouth-watering meal? The option to have your New York Strip or Rib Eye steak cut right at your table sets this steakhouse apart. You get to choose your specifications, and the chef cooks it to perfection. It’s a more expensive option, but you’ll feel like royalty.

Combinations: For the undecided visitor, The Peddler’s combinations offer a sample of the best dishes. Pair your favorite type of meat with chicken, trout, or shrimp. You can also combine any of the two of the chicken, trout, or shrimp if you’re not in the mood for steak.

The restaurant doesn’t offer advance reservations, but it does offer call ahead seating. Call the day of your meal and ask to sit near the window. The window seats afford diners a view of the water and sometimes even the bear. The lighting in that section of the restaurant is great for an intimate dinner experience. Call ahead seating starts each day one hour before opening.

We’ve found the service here adds to the overall experience. The staff and servers are friendly and attentive, so you’re bound to feel at at home. The beef cooking guide on the menu makes it easy for you to order a meal that perfectly suits your tastes. The accommodating team at the restaurant makes it worth the wait. Sure, the menu is a bit pricy, and it can be hard to get a seat if you don’t call ahead. That can turn off some folks, but we suggest you wait it out. You’ll be rewarded with a meal to remember.

Insider Tips:

The restaurant offers parking, but if it fills — and it sometimes does — you can park along River Road or at its sister restaurant, The Park Grill, one block away. There are also a few parking lots where you can pay nearby. The river view tables can only accommodate smaller parties.

If you didn’t call ahead but don’t want to wait, check out the bar area, where you can usually get a table right away. If you’re lucky, you can also get a window seat for views of the river.